Hands-on and Hardened – Louisiana Seafood Board Is Ready

Ewell Smith, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board's executive director, has lived and worked through unprecedented disasters – both natural and manmade – that hit the Crescent City and surrounding Gulf coast in recent years. Photo: Ed Lallo

by Springfield Lewis/Louisiana Seafood News

As Hurricane Isaac bears down on New Orleans on Katrina’s anniversary, Harlon Pearce and Ewell Smith know all too well what could be coming.

Given that, they’re more than prepared for the storm –in fact, they’re steeled for it.

Pearce, chairman of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, and Smith, its executive director, lived and worked through unprecedented disasters – both natural and manmade – that hit the Crescent City and surrounding Gulf coast in recent years.

In 2005, Harlon Pearce, chairman of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, survived Katrina – one of the deadliest and most costly hurricanes in U.S. history. Photo: Ed Lallo

In 2005, they survived Katrina – one of the deadliest and most costly hurricanes in U.S. history. Five years later, Pearce and Smith found themselves helping rebuild the Louisiana seafood industry in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest marine oil spill ever.

Persevering through these disasters, Pearce and Smith – as well as other seafood board members – learned from experience. Together, they shared the hard lessons that now enable local fishermen, seafood processors, restaurateurs and other business people to prepare and carry on.

And, it will be no different now – whatever Isaac brings.

Tags: disasters, Ewell Smith, Featured, fishing, Gulf coast, Harlon Pearce, Hurricane Isaac, Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board